Guide apparatus for strip-rolling mills



Nov. 13, 1928, 1,691,703

A. F. CLARKE GUIDE APPARATUS FOR STRIP ROLLING MILLS Filed May 27, 19274 Sheets-Sheet 1 IHIE/ 24 lllll Hlll w- J if? R L r .1: INVENTOR I s,fllezanderflflar/fe :1: J f m/mmvaaw ATTORNEYS Nov. 13, 1928.

1,691,703 A. F. CLARKE GUIDE APPARATUS FOR STRIP ROLLING MILLS Filed May27, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,703

v A, F. CLARKE GUIDE APPARATUS FUR STRIP ROLLING MILLS Filed May 27,1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY Z3 mm VCQZMM M4 4 l W b ATTORNEYS Nov. 13,1928.

A. F. CLARKE GUIDE APPARATUS FOR STRIP ROLLING MILLS Filed May 27, 19274 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS 'Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

ALEXANDER FIELDER CLARKE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

GUIDE APPARATUS role STRIP-ROLLING MILLS."

Application filed May 27,

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for pack rolling metalstrips. In practicing the process of the present invention, I pass aplurality of superposedstrips of metal between a pair of rolls in a;single o eration and guide the strips into the rolls so t at-they I areproperly aligned when passing through the rolls. i There are numerousadvantages to be gained by my process of pack rolling. When a pack oftwo'or more superposed strips is passed through the rolls, each strip ofthe a pack can be reduced in thickness to the same amount as wouldordinarily be possible with' a single strip, thus bringing aboutamaterial saving in time and labor, and an increase in the output of theapparatus. My rocess of pack rolling is very useful in the co d rollingof metal strips.

In prior attempts to roll a plurality of strips in a single operation,difiiculties have been encountered in maintaining the strips intransverse alignment as they pass through the rolls. If one or more ofthe strips of a pack are out of alignment so that their edgesproject-beyond the sides of the'pack on either side, the rolls tend tosheer oif the projecting portion producing strips non-uniform in widthand'having ragged edges.

In the application of pack rolling to the cold rolling of strips, aserious difficulty is met with because the strips as prepared for themill are usually slightly'thicker in the center than on the edges.Accordingly, when the strips are arranged in of the strips are not inasc each other as are the centers. The fact of the edges of the stripsnot having adequate support gives them an opportunity to creeptransversely and obliquely and to turn up on the extreme edge when incontact with the side guides, and this'throws the strips out ofalignment. p

In practicing the process of the present invention, I avoid thedifliculties heretofore encountered byproviding a system of guidesadjacent to the rolls through which the pack passesand which deliver thestrips to the rolls in proper alignment. These guides preferably consistof a plurality of flat plates for separating the strips one fromanother. lhe fiat plates may be used with side members 1packs, the edgesose contact with 1927. Serial N0. 194,612.

of: pressure rolls, guides arranged adjacent the pressure rolls and aplurality of take-up reels to receive the strips after the rollingoperation has been completed. Separate drive motors may be provided foreach unit of the apparatus and each of the take-up reels may be.provided with independent control means.

The invention also includes means for wiping or cleaning and aligningthe strips as the pack is delivered from the feed rolls to the pressurerolls. Such means may consist of a trough-shaped base or support throughwhich the strips pass and a plurality of plates adapted to separate thestrips from each other and clean and align them, the plates being soFig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation-of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus.

Fi 3 is a perspective view of the base of the c eaning and aligningdevice.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of one of the plates.

Fig. '5 is a side elevation of the pressure rolls on an enlarged scale.

Fig 6 1s an end elevation of the pressure rolls viewed from the right inFig. 5. v

1 Fig. 7 is an end elevation of a tension device to assist in holdingthe strips taut, carried for convenience by the base or support of thepressure rolls.

Fig. 8 1s a perspective view of one of the plates employed in thetension device.

Fig. 9 is a central, vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of thepressure rolls on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the guiding means arranged immediatelyvin front of the pressure rolls.

Fig. 11 is a similar view of one of the separator plates employed in theguiding mec anism. I

Fig. 12 is a similar view of one of the side plates.

Fig. 13' is a side elevation of the take-up reels and associated parts.

Fig. 14 is a plan View.

Fig. 15 is a vertical, transverse, sectional viegv substantially on line15-15 of Fig. 14, an

Fig. 16 is a detail, sectional view clutch control lever of each of thetake-up reels showing the locking mechanism therefor.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2' of the drawings which illustrateschematically the entire apparatus, the reference number 1 designatesv asuitable foundation or support on which a plurality of reels, 2, aremounted. These reels are adapted to contain the strips, 3, to be rolled.As shown, the strips are fed from the reels and arranged in superposedrelation to form a pack, A. The number of strips to be rolled in asingle operation may be varied under different conditions and the use ofa pack formed of three strips is merely illustrative. After the pack isformed, the strips are fed through a cleaning, wiping and aligningapparatus supported on a suitable base or foundation therefor. As shown,this aparatus-may consist of a trough-shaped memer, 5, having sidewalls, 6. It is desirable to have this trough-shaped member adjust-vable to accommodate strips of different widths.- This may beaccomplished in any suitable manner, as by providing auxiliary side-wallstrips 6, adjustably secured to the walls 6.

Within the trough-shaped base, theopposite surfaces of the strips areadapted to contact with plates 7 (see Fig. 4) These plates may be madeof any suitablematerial and are adapted to contact, with the surfaces ofthe strips with suflicient pressure to remove oil or other materialtherefrom, and to keep the .strips in alignment. As shown, one end ofeach plate is of increased width, as indicated at 8, and the projectingtabs so formed are adapted to engage the ends of the sidewalls 6, whenthe strips are in position. The move ment of the strips through thecleaning and aligning trough will then retain the plates in position.The pressure of the plates on the strips can be obtained by placing aweight, 9, on the uppermost plate, and this pressure can, of course, bevaried by varying the size of the weight, orby using a screw or thelike.

The strips are passed through a rolling of thethe bearings and areconnected to flexible.

couplings 13 and 16 respectively. The upper bearing members 17 aread1usted by means of threaded rods or bolts19 secured to .the bearingblocks and passin through threaded openings in the uprigh members 11.The upper ends of the bolts aresquared as at 20 for the reception of aWrench or other suitable tool to permit adjustment of the up-' perpressure roll with respect to the lower pressure roll to vary thepressure exerted on the strips.

The. pressure rolls may be driven in any suitable manner. As shown amotor 21 may be arranged adjacent'thev foundation and a drive shaft22-driven from the motor. This.

shaft is, mounted in suitable bearings 23 carried by the base orfoundation of the pressure rolls and is driven by means of a-chain belt24 passing over a gear 25 on motor shaft 26 and a gear 27 which isloosely mounted on the drive shaft. As shown (see Fig. 6) the gear 27 iscarried by a hub 28 and this hub is provided with a circumferential slot29 for the reception of the ends of a yoke 30.v The shaft 32 is providedwith a key 31 adapted to be received in a longitudinal. groove in thehub 28, to connect the gear 27 'to the drive shaft when it-is movedon'the shaft to the means of a control lever 32 which isconnected to theyoke 30 by a link'33. The drive shaft is provided with a pinion 35meshing with a gear 35 carried by a shaft 35'. This shaft extends into apinion housing 38 and carries a pinion 36 which drives a second pinion37 also arranged in the pinion-housing. The pinions 36 and 37 areconnected to the flexible couplings 13 and 16 respectivelyzto drivethepressure rolls 12 and 15. i a

In front of the pressure rolls, I provide a tension device 39, to holdthe strips taut, mounted on a bracket '40, carried for convenience bythe base of the pressure rolls. The auxiliary pressure device isprovided with a substantially U-shaped frame 41, adapted to receive aplurality of separating through the U-shaped frame and is adapted tocontact with the upper plate 42, to exert bolted to the pressure rollsupport-11, as"

shown in Fig. 9. In passing through the guldlng and aligning mechanism,the strips are separated by plates 50, to permit freedom of movement ofthe individual strips. The strips are guided by means of side members51, which are arranged in the frame. As shown, the guide members are ofa height substantially equal to the frame of the guiding mechanism andare provided with enlarged ends 52, which engage the front of the frameto retain the guide members in proper position. When the apparatus is to.be used, a suitable number of guide members are placed in each side toleave a space between the two sides equal to the width of f the stripsbeing rolled, so that the side edges delivered to take-up reels ofcommon design,

of the strips will contact with the guide members. The separator plates50 are likewise provided with enlarged ends 53, which engage the sidemembers as. shown'in Fig. 10 of the drawings, to retain them inposition. A tapered block or wedge 54, of substantially the width of thestrips, is arranged between the upper separator plate and the top of theguiding frame, and this wedge may be driven in a suitable distance toregulate the pressure in the frame, to hold the strips and separatingplates flat.

After the strips have been rolled, they are carried by a suitable frameconsisting 0 pair of spaced side members 55. These side members areadapted to support shafts 56, 1

which are mounted in suita le bearings 57, and carry the take-up reels58... The take-.up

5 reels are driven from a motor 59, and are provided with independentcontrols. As shown, the motor shaft is provided with a pulley 60,adapted to receive a belt 61, which passes over a pulley 62, mounted ona shaft 63. The shaft 63 is supported in suitable bearings 64 carried bythe frame of the take-up mechanism. This shaft is provided'with a gear65 adapted to mesh with gears 66 arranged on shaft-s 67 immediatelybelow the shafts 56 of the take-up reels (see Fig. 15). Suitableintermediate shafts 68 are provided having pinions 69 by means of whichthe train from each gear 66 is completed to the next adjacent gear andshaft 67. The shafts 67 are provided with pinions 70, meshing with gears71 carried by drums 72 on the shafts 56. The shafts 56 are provided withkeys 73 adapted "by the threaded rod 44.

chine as at 82, so that when it is depressed, I

the armSO is moved in a counter-clockwisedirection exerting a pull onthe llIlk 79, and

moving the clutch to an operative position.

The pedal 81 passes between a pair of guides 83 (see Fig. 16) and isadapted to be locked in operative position by'means of a rav'ityactuated latch 84, which is "carried y one of the guides83, and isadapted to assume the operative position shown in Fig. 16 when the pedalis depressed. The latch is provided with a lateral extension 85 topermitits release, and when the latch is released, the pedal is moved upwardlyby a spring 86. A brake band 87 is arranged on the reel and the end ofthis brake band is connected to an arm 88,

extending from the clutch pedal 81, so that when the clutch is releasedthe brake is applied.

In practicing-the process, the number .of reels on the base or support1, and on the take-up unit 55, are first determined by the number ofstri s to be rolled in the pack. The strips are 'rst led through thecleaning and aligning device 4, to remove any oil or other substancethat may have remained on their surfaces from prior treatments, and togive the strips a preliminary alignment. The movement of the stripstoward the right in Figs. 1 andf2 of the drawings exerts a pull whichretains the separator plates 7 in place and the pressure exerted bythese plates is controlled by the weight 9, or other device.

If the tension device 39 is employed, the pull of the strips likewiseretains the plates 42 in position, and the pressure is regulatedImmediately before passing between the pressure rolls, the strips passthrough the guiding mechanism 46. This is an essential;

feature of the invention, as it properly aligns the strips of the packjust before they are delivered to the rolls. members 51 is determined bythe width of the strips being rolled, and these side members and theseparator plates 50 are retained in position by their enlarged ends 52and 53, respectively, and the pull exerted by the strips being fedthrough the apparatus. By employing the separator plates 50 in theguiding mechanism, the strips maymore readily align themselves whentheir side edges contact with the side members 51. It is advisable toexert some pressure on the strips at this point to The number of sideprevent too free movement so that the strips will remain aligned as theypass through the pressure rolls. The wedge or tapered block 54, or othermeans, is employed for the purpose of obtaining this pressure, and thepressure can, of course, be varied by adjusting this block or othermechanism in the frame.

The pressure rolls may be adjusted to exert any desired pressure on thestrips by moving the upper roll with respect to the lower roll.

After passing through the pressure rolls, the strips are arranged on thetake-up reels 58, which are driven from the motor 59, and which areindependently controlled in the manner heretofore described, so that anynumber of reels may be driven and used according to the number of stripsbeing rolled in a single operation.

I claim:

1. In a device for pack'rolling metal strips,

a guide consisting of an open frame, separator plates arranged withinthe frame and side members arranged within the frame and adapted tocontact with the sides of the strips. 2. In a device for pack rollingmetal strips, cleaning mechanism consisting essentially of a support andaplurality of plates adapted to be arranged between the strips, saidplates being retained in the support by the pull exerted by the movingstrips.

' 3. In a device for pack rolling metal strips, a guide consisting of aframe, plates adapted to be arranged within the frame between thestrips, and means for retaining said plates in position by the pullexerted by the moving strips.

4. In a devicefor pack rolling metal strips, a frame and plates adaptedto be arranged within the frame between the strips, said plates beingprovided'with enlarged ends adapted to engage the end of the frame toprevent the plates from passing through the frame.

5. In a device for pack rolling metal strips, a guide consisting of aframe and side members arranged within the frame and adapted to engagethe edges of the strips to align 7 them, said side members beingretained in the frame by the pull exerted by the moving strips, and apluralityof plates arranged between the strips to hold the same out ofcontact with each other. w

6. In a device for pack rolling metal strips, a frame and side membersarranged within the frame and adapted to contact with the

